GAFÉIAS Bylaws

6.3. The Delegates' Assembly

6.3.1. The Delegates' Assembly shall consist of one member of each country recognized by the United Nations respectively Council of Europe.

Nomination of this member to the Delegates' Assembly is effected by the national environmental investments and sustainability related society, or in the absence of such a society, by the recognised section related to environmental investments and sustainability, or in the absence of both aforementioned bodies, by the national body for specialisation in environmental investments and sustainability that has members appointed as members of the society.

Duration of office is four years, renewable for one further four-year period only. The delegate cannot be re-elected during the next consecutive year period. Only members of the Association are eligible as Members of the Delegates' Assembly. A member holding an office in GAFÉIAS cannot continue to be a National Delegate.

The National Society or equivalent as in 6.3.1. will nominate a deputy National Delegate, who will act as a substitute for the National Delegate for the entire duration of office of the National Delegate as in 6.3.1.

6.3.2. The ordinary Delegates' Assembly shall take place at least once a year, earlier than the Members' Assembly, and normally during the regular meeting of GAFÉIAS, the time of written notice of the Agenda being at least 6 weeks. If there is no meeting of GAFÉIAS during the year, the Delegates' Assembly will be called by GAFÉIAS President, giving 12 weeks written notice of the date and at least 6 weeks written notice of the agenda to National Societies.

6.3.3. The National Delegate represents the views of the National Society or equivalent as in 6.3.1. Each country has a single vote, which is cast by the National Delegate. In case the National Delegate cannot attend the meeting the deputy National Delegate may substitute and will cast the vote. Voting by proxy is not permitted.

6.3.4. An extraordinary Delegates' Assembly may be called either by the Executive Committee or if one-third of the National Societies wish so. The time of notification of the date of the extraordinary Delegates’ Assembly should be 12 weeks, the time of written notice of the agenda should be at least 6 weeks.

An extraordinary Delegates' Assembly must have representatives of at least fifty per cent of the National Societies who have voting rights present.

6.3.5. The Delegates' Assembly has the following functions and responsibilities:

To receive the Annual Report of GAFÉIAS Executive Committee

To discuss the general policy put forward by the Executive Committee,

To discuss and approve the contribution to funds due to GAFÉIAS from the National Societies,

To bring forward the views of the National Societies to the Executive Committee of GAFÉIAS,

To elect to the Executive Committee GAFÉIAS Vice President, Secretary General and the Project Coordinator,

To elect the one Delegate representative to the Court of Arbitration.

GAFÉIAS Rules

4. Delegates

4.1. If a state is not represented in two consecutive Delegates’ meetings (Delegates' Assembly or extraordinary Delegates’ Assembly), the President shall contact the National Society or recognised section of Environmental investments and sustainability or the national body for specialisation in Environmental investments and sustainability in question and mention that the National Delegate (or the deputy National Delegate) is expected to be present at the third consecutive meeting. Failure to attend then will lead to the demotion of the National Delegate (or the deputy National Delegate) to non-voting observer at the next Delegates' meeting that the National Delegate (or the deputy National Delegate) attends, returning to full voting Delegate status at the next Annual Delegates' Assembly after that which the National Delegate (or the deputy National Delegate) attended.

4.2. If a National Society or recognised section of Environmental investments and sustainability or the national body for specialisation in Environmental investments and sustainability does not pay the appropriate contribution to GAFÉIAS, approved by the Delegates' Assembly, the President shall write to the appropriate body as above and state that failure to pay the appropriate approved contribution to GAFÉIAS within two months of receipt of the President's letter will demote their state to non-voting observer status only.The Delegate of the appropriate body representing the state may appeal to the Court of Arbitration. Restitution of the full funds due to GAFÉIAS will allow the Delegate of the appropriate body representing the state to return to the Delegates' Assembly, initially as non-voting observer and after a further year as full voting Delegate in the Delegates' Assembly.

4.3. If a National Delegate is not retired after the appropriate duration of office as set out in Bylaw 6.3, he or she will subsequently have non-voting observer status only.